Determination of haloperidol in biological samples with the aid of ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction followed by HPLC-DAD.

A rapid and simple quantitative method for preconcentration and determination of haloperidol in biological samples was developed using ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction, based on the solidification of floating organic droplet combined with HPLC-DAD. The effects of several factors were investigated. A total of 30 μL of 1-undecanol as an extraction solvent was injected slowly into a glass-centrifuge tube containing 4 mL alkaline sample solution that was located inside the ultrasonic water bath. The formed emulsion was centrifuged and the fine droplets of solvent were floated at the top of the test tube, then it was cooled in an ice bath and the solidified solvent was transferred into a conical vial, after melt, the analysis of the extract was carried out by HPLC. Under the optimal conditions, the extraction efficiencies were more than 90% and the preconcentration factors were obtained between 119-122. The LOQs were obtained between 4-8 μg/L and the calibration curves were linear within the range of 4-1000 μg/L. Finally this method was applied to the determination of haloperidol in plasma and urine samples in the range of μg/L and satisfactory results were achieved (RSDs <7%).